The Central Victorian Regional Insect Collection (C.V.R.I.C) is seeking local support to establish a permanent location in the Woodend Community Health Building in Forest Street.
Desperate to find a permanent home for 200,000 specimens which form part of its valuable and irreplaceable collections, curator Dr Bert Candusio has called for public support for the project.
“It is hoped that this will become the permanent location for the entire insect [and] invertebrate research collections held by the C.V.R.I.C,” he said.
“But we need both public and Macedon Ranges council support to make this project become a reality.”
Once established in its permanent home, Dr Candusio said the C.V.R.I.C will become a central focal point for the research and classification of deposited insect and related material.
This will include allowing students of all ages to pursue their studies, with the location to act as a base for the junior insect club.
It is also planned to provide research and library facilities for school and university students, while acting as the permanent focal point for the Australian National Entomology Insect Expo which attracts more than 7000 visitors each year.
Dr Candusio said the facility would provide access for private research, formal identification services, environmental consultancy services, farmers and environmental groups and much more.
He said there is also the possibility the facility could host and operate scanning electron microscope services in the future, which is high magnification with high resolution.
“Although the C.V.R.I.C is being structured to operate as a [not-for-profit] trust, if we could… use this building at little to no cost… the community benefits and outcomes would be tremendous.
Dr Candusio encouraged residents to contact Macedon Ranges councillors to show their support for the plan.
Council’s director corporate Adele Drago-Stevens said council is aware of C.V.R.I.C’s interest in occupying the building and council is conducting an internal assessment.
“[This will] explore potential future uses of the site that align with the delivery of council’s services, provide the best public value, and take into consideration community needs and benefits.
“If it is determined there is no immediate use for the building by council, expressions of interest may be invited from public and private entities, which will be assessed for their suitability.”
Details: cvric.com.au
